Free to Be

It's a funny thing, vacation. You save up your money, you plan, you research, and then when you finally get to your destination, almost inevitably there's someone in your group who will say "So this is it?". That's when you need to think about activities you can do in addition to the primary purpose or destination of your vacation.

I've done a lot of trips, and we've done a lot of research. The one thing that I'm proud to say is that when we do a destination trip, such as our upcoming Disneyland vacation, we usually have researched the subject enough to have come up with some alternative ideas, in the event we get restless. You may think that there's nothing else to do in the greater Anaheim area, but that's not the case.

If you decide you've just had enough of the parks (and who doesn't get to that point, sooner or later), you can rent a car and in less than an hour be on a beautiful sandy beach overlooking the ocean. You can head to San Diego for history, or LA for glamour. You can catch some nature by exploring the state parks in the area, and maybe get a little outdoor recreation in too.

Citysearch.com is a great tool in these instances, and it's something that you can access easily at the last minute, even while you're away. If you don't want to bring a laptop or smart phone, check with the concierge at your hotel -- you might get some suggestions that only a local would know. Talk to other vacationers or staff members. What are their favorite places to go when they are in town, or in the area? Where do they like to eat, that is off the beaten path? They may not initially want to share their "secrets" with you, but if you're polite (and persistent) you may find some hidden gems.

In short, be open to being spontaneous. While traveling with a disability requires pre-planning and research, it does not require an itinerary that is set in stone. Be flexible and have fun -- this is your vacation after all, and you've definitely earned it!

Tip #2 getting from the airport to the hotel. There have not been as many choices for people with mobility issues as there are now. There are car rental agencies that can get you a vehicle with hand controls (with at least 48 hours notice see car rental post). You can hop a taxi which will set you back in the fundage department. Or you can do what I do and make a reservation for an airport shuttle. I have used both Supershuttle and Disney Magic Express and they are both pretty nice, clean, and as safe as you can get on a California freeway. You do have to let them know if you require a wheelchair lift as not all of their buses have them. The shuttle lets you sit back and relax as their driver navigates the chaos that is the SoCal highway system. It is reasonably priced and you might even get a deal booking a package.

I plan to go a bit more indepth in a later post about getting around Anaheim itself using the ART system as I am still checking out all the little intricacies of the system. Until Tomorrow.....

Rental cars

Hello all. Yes I know this is 2 posts in 2 days. I am trying to do a little more to help get information out there to you. This time I wanted to quickly talk about rental cars. Most all major rental car companies (Hertz, Avis, ETC.) have vehicles that are equipped with hand controls and possibly a steering knob. You do have to make arrangements to get one delivered to your rental location aproximately (a minimum of) three days although I would suggest more time just to make sure that things get done correctly. I have rented a Crystler Seabring, A Lebaron, and a Ford Focus and have been told that smaller or larger cars can be outfitted with the modifications with advanced notice. This is great for vacation or when/if you have car troubles. Also it can be nice to drive something different every now and then (I have had nothing but vans until last year when I bought a Honda Element so being in a car was great!!).

Now if you are looking for a vehicle with a wheelchair lift this will require more digging on your or your travel agents part. Those can be available by checking with a dealer that installs hand controls or checking with a medical equipment rental company in your vacationing area. I have personally checked with Absolute Mobility in Washington State and for about $150.00 a day (or they have weekly rates too) you can rent a van equipped with a lift and hand controls or other configurations. You will just have to do a little checking in the area, but if you are motivated enough you will get results.

Just remember this as your best practice when traveling. If you don't ask questions you will never find answers

That's todays tip, more to come.